CRAVEN has recorded the highest crime reduction figures in North Yorkshire while maintaining the county's best detection rate.

The annual figures were published this week, and show crime has fallen by 20.3 per cent over the past 12 months - twice the regional average.

"It is very good news," said police chief Supt Andy Parker, pictured here. "In this division, a lot of hard work has been done. Our intelligence-led policing is working, and we will continue to target active criminals."

Between April 1 1997 and March 31 1998, 2,292 crimes were reported, which means there were 585 fewer victims than in the previous year. Crime has tumbled by about a third over the past four years.

The biggest reductions were in house burglaries (down 15.2 per cent), other burglaries (down 32.2 per cent), thefts from vehicles (down 33.4 per cent) and violent crime (down 17.1 per cent).

And the division continued to have the best clear-up rate in North Yorkshire, rising from 37.9 per cent last year to 39.3 per cent. The regional figure stands at 26 per cent.

Supt Parker attributed the success to a number of factors. "Local area policing is coming to fruition," he said. "We have teams of officers dedicated to certain areas, who want to address the problems and make a difference.

"We have also got to recognise the hard work done by our partners, such as the Crime Prevention Panel and Craven District Council.

"There is also tremendous public support. People are prepared to talk to us, and as a result we are able to take action."

Supt Parker is convinced the downward trend can continue. "If crime has fallen by 20 per cent, then there are 20 per cent less offences to investigate, and that means more time to concentrate on those areas which are important to ourselves and the public."

For instance, this year's service plan includes promoting local watch schemes, addressing the problem of rural crime, and tackling alcohol-related disorder.

"Given the possible advent of closed circuit television in Skipton, and the strengthening of our partnerships through community safety initiatives, I think we have a real opportunity to reduce crime further."

Another objective is to promote road safety. Last year, there were 10 fatal accidents, three more than in 1996-97, although the number of serious injury accidents fell by 18 to 83, and slight injury accidents by 14 to 212.

* Next year's figures will be produced to a different set of rules, which could show an apparent rise in crime.

But the police point out that far from being an increase, the new figures will be a more accurate reflection of what is already happening.

For instance, in the past, if someone stole a cheque book and wrote 12 cheques, it was counted as one crime. Now, each cheque written will be recorded as a separate crime.

The categories most likely to be affected are thefts, firearms offences, harassment, drugs, assaults on police officers, and criminal damage.

Locally, two sets of figures will be kept - one will be prepared using the previous guidelines, and the other will be drawn up under the new rules.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.